Dwayne Johnson Gets Back in His Fanny Pack for ZOA’s ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ Campaign: ‘Ridiculous’ (Exclusive)

Dwayne Johnson wants people to channel his “BDE” — Big Dwayne Energy.

In a new ad for ZOA Energy drinks, an aerial acrobatics novice, an overjoyed busy mom and a surgeon are transformed into an actor, who then performs his tasks with focus and swagger. Of course, it was set to Latt’s hit “Big Energy.”

Johnson, 51, co-founded ZOA with his ex-wife Dany Garcia, her husband Dave Rienzi and John Shulman. For their latest project, “I wanted to do a campaign where I could look as ridiculous as possible and put me in these ridiculous outfits and clothes where I could still have fun,” Johnson laughs to PEOPLE.

Dwayne Johnson in the new ZOA Energy campaign video.

Courtesy of Zoa Energy

He adds that there are two key elements to channeling Dwayne’s great energy.

“First, noise reduction,” he says. “There’s so much noise out there that we’re always struggling to tune out and it could be so distracting and sometimes so cynical and negative.” The second is “having fun and knowing that your true self is all you need.”

“I think it’s really doubling down on your personal confidence and being your true, authentic self and just being unapologetic about it,” adds Rienzi.

Of all the roles Johnson played in the ad, recreating his now-iconic ’90s look was his favorite. In the original photo, which has been circulating on social media for years, he is wearing a black turtleneck, a gold chain, mom jeans and a purse. Now, Johnson is standing next to him dressed as ’90s Rock’ in the ad, giving off “some serious big Dwayne energy,” according to one onlooker.

Dwayne Johnson in the new ZOA Energy campaign video.

Courtesy of Zoa Energy

“We saved that for the last day of shooting,” Johnson says. “This one really took the cake. So when I walked on set as ’90s Rock, everyone’s reaction, I thought, was a good indication of what people would feel when they finally saw the place.”

Dwayne Johnson Teases ‘Cutting-Edge’ Moana 2 and his new music: ‘We All Really Went for It’

He says one of the best reactions to the outfit over the years was from Jennifer Lopez when he texted her telling her he couldn’t come to a Halloween party.

Dwayne Johnson in the new ZOA Energy campaign video.

Courtesy of Zoa Energy

“We lived in the same neighborhood and I sent her that picture,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Look, I can’t come to the party, but this is how I was going to come looking, looking like this idiot.’ She said, ‘This is the best picture I’ve ever seen and I love it’.”

Johnson’s best tip for carrying a purse with confidence is “don’t look down and just be confident in what’s actually in the purse.” If you see Moana star wears one these days, he says it probably carries his phone, ZOA, Pop-Tarts, a shot of tequila and “about two or three other inappropriate things,” he jokes.

Johnson’s favorite drink flavor is his own creation. “I always like to say that I’m a teenager and I’m not sure if I’ll ever grow up, so my favorite is grapes,” he says. “It was fun meetings that I had with Dany and Dave and our formulators and our partners saying, ‘Hey, guys know this sounds crazy. I feel like a 12 year old, but can we have some grapes? Let’s make grapes.’ It turned out to be one of our best sellers and I’m very happy about that.”

Dany Garcia, Dave Rienzi and John Shulman of ZOA.

Courtesy of Zoa Energy

Dwayne Johnson Channels ’90s ‘Young Rock’ With Fake Hair, Fanny Pack And Christmas Serenade Of ‘Camel Toes’

Johnson, Garcia and Rienzi addressed what other public figures have been channeling BDE of late.

“I’m going to give credit to the Premier Women’s Hockey League that just launched, because that group of women that just launched their inaugural season, they’re all bringing BDE and doing something fantastic,” Garcia tells PEOPLE.

“Kevin Hart, my son,” Johnson jokes before adding, “I’m going with Emily Blunt and the whole cast Oppenheimer and the director Oppenheimer [Christopher Nolan]. After Usher’s performance at the Super Bowl, I’d say sure, Usher too. And Luda, my boy, I’ve known Luda for a long, long time, HER and worse.”

Also someone with BDE: Johnson’s Moana character, Maui. This month brought news that the sequel to the 2016 film is set for release in November, and Johnson says he “can’t wait” for fans to see it.

“I am very grateful for all that film has brought to families around the world over the years,” he says. “It’s not hyperbole when I tell you that this is the number one request I get when I meet fans anywhere, ‘Hey, can you sing ‘You’re welcome’ for my kid, or it’s their birthday, or it’s their bat mitzvah.’ Whatever it is, it’s always that song. And that movie brought so much joy and is so empowering to young girls and boys and people, period. I am so pumped and excited about our continuation.”

Moana (voice: Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (voice: Dwayne Johnson).

Johnson, who reprises his role as a demigod, adds that Disney “didn’t skimp” on the Moana 2. “It sounds a bit cliche, but they’ve also taken on such a huge responsibility to deliver something so special,” he says, “I’ve had the chance to see part of the film and the technology is just outstanding.”

“We remind you, our ocean is alive and has a heartbeat and a soul,” he adds. “And to see the ocean come to life with the technology I’ve seen us apply, it’s amazing. And I’m so excited to deliver it to families around the world.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education